A Christian pastor in Iran who has already served six years behind bars is now facing the death penalty for ‘spreading corruption on Earth’ through his Christian witness and activities.

Iranian Pastor Behnam Irani

Behnam Irani, the imprisoned Iranian pastor who leads the 300-member Church of Iran in Karaj, was initially detained in 2006 while holding a Bible study and sentenced to prison five years later for “action against the state.” However, in June, he was interrogated on five occasions for four hours each. The Iranian authorities then added 18 new charges against the 41-year-old pastor, including Mofsed fel-Arz or “spreading corruption on Earth,” which carries the death penalty. Another translation of the charge is “enemies of God on Earth.”